Singles Collection Vol. 3

Singles Collection Vol. 4

Greatest Hits III

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Greatest Hits III
By Gary Taylor
The bands third Greatest Hits compilation album was released in the UK on 8 November 1999. This time the project was called Queen +, which meant they could include singles they have shared with other artists, and some of their most successful solo singles. This idea was not a popular decision with fans, especially as there were some Queen singles left off the first two Greatest Hits albums that could of been used to compensate for any gaps in the track listing from recent years that they had to fill.
For unknown reasons the hit single A Winter's Tale was strangely overlooked for this compilation, as was Body Language and Scandal yet again.
The album reached No 5 on the UK album charts going gold and eventually reaching double platinum award status, and was a huge seller elsewhere around the world. The album also reached No 1 in Argentina going double platinum, and hit No 2 in Italy, Austria and Germany and top 10 placings were secured in Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Norway.
The album cover was designed by Peacock and Queen, with additional design by Richard Gray, and a 'new' crest design by Angela Lumley. Incorporating Brian, Roger and John's faces from The Miracle photo sessions in black and white at the bottom of the cover, and a grey coloured Freddie dominating the space above and looking down at the other members of the band, it made quite a striking image.
The vinyl album was a limited edition numbered double LP set, in a single cover with an outer PVC sleeve, with the crest and titles in Silver printed on the front. The two black, white and silver themed inner sleeves also included track by track liner notes and were also used in the CD versions. There were two CD's released, one limited edition version included a 28 page booklet with a selection of colour photos sent in by fans, who via the official Queen website had to send in their own photos for a competition, with the best chosen and included in the booklet. Unfortunately some official and pro shot photos were included that had been seen before, and a proposed poster of these shots for the LP version was halted. The CD was issued with the band picture and all titles printed on the jewel case and not the booklet cover. The other was a regular CD and issued with a 24 page booklet and all text and the band photo printed on the booklet.
Like the previous Greatest Hits compilations there was an accompanying long form video Greatest Flix III, containing all the promo videos that were contained on this album, but unlike the previous albums there was no Greatest Pix book.
Once again, the album's tracklisting was universal containing 17 tracks in all.
The album contains most of the hit singles that have been released since the last Greatest Hits II album in 1991. Although the first two tracks were not released as singles, further confusing the idea of the album, both had been previously unreleased before. The Show Must Go On performed live with Elton John taking on the lead vocal role, was taken from their live performance at the Theatre National De Chaillot in Paris on January 17 1997, while Under Pressure (Rah mix) was a specially remixed version and included fresh recording work by Roger and Brian. Roger has said that he thought the song deserved more time and production spent on it, and so they did. This track was released as the first single to be taken from the album and released as two CD's in the UK on 6 December, with a 7" vinyl picture disc being issued on 13 December.
To confuse matters even more, the original single version of Freddie and Montserrat Caballe's Barcelona is included here, the first of four solo songs on this collection. Having been a hit twice in the UK, the first in 1987 upon it's initial release reaching No 8 in the chart, a second re release hit the No 2 position after Freddie's death in 1992.
Too Much Love Will Kill You was originally recorded by Brian for his first solo album, this Queen version then appeared on Made In Heaven in 1995, and reached No 15 as a single in it's own right in February 1996, with it's composers winning an Ivor Novello award for this poignant Queen power ballad.
Featuring George Michael on lead vocals and backed by the remaining three members of Queen, this version of Somebody To Love was recorded live at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992, and as part of the single Five Live EP, reached No 1 in the UK chart a year later.
Both You Don't Fool Me and Heaven For Everyone were released as singles from the Made In Heaven album, and both hitting the charts in 1996 and 1995 respectively. Roger's Heaven For Everyone was released prior to the album, with this edited single version reaching No 2 in the UK and becoming a top 10 single all over the world.
Having been omitted on Greatest Hits II, and reaching No 17 in the UK charts in 1982, Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love), is finally included here, along with two more solo singles, in Brian's No 6 hit single Driven By You (also winning Brian an Ivor Novello award) and Freddie's Living On My Own. Unfortunately this version is the 'Album mix' from The Freddie Mercury Album and not the 'Radio mix' single that was released in 1993, reaching No 1 in the UK charts, and also giving Freddie a posthumous Ivor Novello award.
Let Me Live is another worthy Queen hit single included here, reaching No 9 in June 1996 and featuring Freddie, Brian and Roger on lead vocals.
Freddie's hit twice over in the UK with The Great Pretender is also included, as is the single Princes Of The Universe, a highlight from their A Kind Of Magic album and used as the theme tune to the Highlander film and subsequent TV series. This was only released as a single in 1986 in the USA, Canada, Japan and a No 30 hit in Australia. This would also make a second CD only single from Greatest Hits III in Holland in 2000.
A new cover of Another One Bites The Dust, by rap artist Wyclef Jean and featuring Pras Michel and Free, and retaining the original Queen recording, was released as a single in 1998 to co-incide with the film Small Soldiers. This is probably the worst choice of track assembled on this trilogy of Greatest Hits albums, and caused much outcry from the fan base at the time.
Written by Brian for possible inclusion on his last solo album, No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young) was given the Queen treatment and used on the Rocks album instead. Released as a single in the UK in January 1998, after it's European release in 1997, it reached No 13 in the charts, and is the first and only post Freddie studio recording to date to feature Queen as a three man line-up.
The smash hit single These Are The Days Of Our Lives, originally from the album Innuendo, and issued as a double A side charity single with Bohemian Rhapsody after Freddie's death in December 1991, is included here and went on to win the band another Ivor Novello award in 1992, as well as winning the 'Best single' award at the 1992 annual Brit Awards.
The final song after an 8 second break, Thank God It's Christmas, and the only Christmas single the band released in their career in November 1984, is added here as a bonus track.
Producers: Various inc. Queen, David Bowie, Mack, David Richards, Freddie Mercury, David Richards, Mike Moran, Brian May, Serge Ramaekers, Colin Peter, Carl Ward,
Engineers: Various inc. Queen, Joshua J. MacRae, Justin Shirely –Smith, Wyclef Jean, Noel Harris, Heidi Cannavo,
Recording Studios: Various inc Live at Theatre National De Chailot, Mountain, Live at Wembley Stadium, Allerton Hill, Mountain Studios, Musicland Studios
Artwork Concept: Peacock, Queen and Richard Gray

Letras

2. Under Pressure (Rah Mix)

You say New York, New York is dangerous
Cause you read that where you may
Even a blind man could see that's not so
Love love love love love.....
Ray
People on streets
Ha ha haa ey
Mm ba ba de
Um bum ba de
Um bu bu bum da de
Why don't we give all that one more chance?
Pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure
Pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure
Ppushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure that brings a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da - that's o.k.
It's the terror of knowing
What the world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming 'Let me out'
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets
Day day de day day de
Day day de day day de
Day day de day day de
Day day de day day de
Day day de day day de
O.k.
Chippin' around kick my brains around the floor
These are the days it never rains but it pours
Ee do ba be
Ee da ba ba ba
Um bo bo
Be lap
People on streets - ee da de da de
People on streets - ee da de da de da de da
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming 'Let me out'
Tomorrow - gets me higher higher high
Pressure on people - people on streets
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Why - why - why?
Love love love love love love love
Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance
Why can't we give love that one more chance
Why can't we give love give love give love give love
give love give love give love give love give love
'Cause love's such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the (People on streets) edge of the night
And loves (People on streets) dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure

3. Barcelona

I had this perfect dream
Un sueno me envolvio
This dream was me and you
Tal vez esta aqui
I want all the world to see
Un instinto me guiaba
A miracle sensation
My guide and inspiration
Now my dream is slowly coming true
The wind is a gentle breeze
EI me hablo de ti
The bells are ringing out
EI canto vuela
They're calling us together
Guiding us forever
Wish my dream would never go away
Barcelona
It was the first time that we met
Barcelona
How can I forget
The moment that you stepped into the room
You took my breath away
Barcelona
La musica vibro
Barcelona
Yella nos unio
And if God is willing
We will meet again
Someday
Let the songs begin
Dejalo nacer
Let the music play
Ahhhhhhh ...
Make the voices sing
Nace un gran amor
Start the celebration
Ven a mi
And cry
Grita
Come alive
Vive
And shake the foundations from the skies
Shaking all our lives
Barcelona
Such a beautiful horizon
Barcelona
Like a jewel in the sun
Por ti sere gaviota de tu bella mar
Barcelona
Suenan las campanas
Barcelona
Abre tus puertas al mundo
If God is willing
If God is willing
If God is willing
Friends until the end
Viva!
Barcelona!

8. Las Palabras De Amor

Don't touch me now
Don't hold me now
Don't break the spell darling, now you are near
Look in my eyes
And speak to me
Those special promises I long to hear
Las palabras de amor
Let me hear the words of love
Despacito mi amor
Love me slow and gently
One foolish world, so many souls
Senselessly hurled through the never ending cold
And all for fear, and all for greed
Speak any tongue but for God's sake we need
Las palabras de amor
Let me hear the words of love
Despacito mi amor
Let me know, this night and evermore
This room is bare
This night is cold
We're far apart and I'm growing old
But while we live, we'll meet again
So then my love we may whisper once more
It's you I adore
Las palabras de amor
Let me hear the words of love
Despacito mi amor
Touch me now - oh wooh hoo
Las palabras de amor
Let us share the words of love
For evermore (for evermore)
For evermore
Wooo

9. Driven By You

Woh - everything I do I do for you
Ow
Oh yeah
We touch and you're afraid of me
And we burn and now I'm at your feet
High speed, but you know you're in safe hands
Ooh, in the dark we make a brighter light
From one spark to the horizon wide
We trust, and together we tame the land, yeah
Oh you'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true, yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Oh, come on babe
Oh well it's tough to make a journey through
The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me
And you know we still got time
Whoo, hold on tight to the driving wheel
This ride is really out of line
Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime
You know I love you but you drive me crazy
'Cos you're saying all the things I want to say to you
(You say) Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, oh yeah, everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do
Everything we do is driven by you
Inner children lost their way
Now they know the price you pay
I'm holding on to life with you
'Cos life without you just won't do
Driven by you
Ahh, you know we're never gonna know who's dreaming
But we're working night and day to make the dream come true
Yeah everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Yeah everything we do, everything we do, yeah everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do..
... is driven by, driven by, driven by you
Yeah
Ooooh everything I dooo, I do for you

10. Living On My Own

Dee do dee do day
Dee do dee do dee do dee do day oh
Sometimes I feel I'm gonna break down and cry, so lonely
Nowhere to go, nothing to do with my time
I get lonely, so lonely, living on my own.
Sometimes I feel I'm always walking too fast, so lonely
And everything is coming down on me, down on me, I go crazy
Oh so crazy, living on my own.
Dee do de de, dee do de de
I don't have no time for no monkey business
Dee do de de, dee do de de
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, yeah
Got to be some good times ahead
Sometimes I feel nobody gives me no warning
Find my head is always up in the clouds in a dreamworld
It's not easy, living on my own, my own, my own
Dee do de de (lonely), dee do de de (lonely)
I don't have no time for no monkey business
Dee do de de, dee do de de
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, yeah
Got to be some good times ahead
(Ad lib section!)
C'mon baby
Dee do de de, dee do de de
I don't have no time for no monkey business
Dee do de de, dee do de de
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, yeah
Got to be some good times ahead
Yeah baby
Di di di di
Dibby dibby du-wop du-wop
yeah y-y-y-y-y-y-ow-yeah
Living on my own, living on my own
Living on my own, living on my own, wooh
da, day, day, day, day
di, di, di, di, di, di, di
Be-dop, be-dop, be-dop, be-dop
Be-dop, be-dop, be-dop, be-dop
Be-dop, be-dop, be-dop, be-dop
Woh!

12. The Great Pretender

Oh yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh ooh)
Pretending I'm doing well (ooh ooh ooh)
My need is such
I pretend too much
I'm lonely but no-one can tell
Oh yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh ooh)
Adrift in a world of my own (ooh ooh ooh)
I play the game
But to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone
Too real is this feeling of make (make believe) believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal
Oh oh, yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh ooh)
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see (ooh you see)
I'm wearing my heart like a clown
Pretend that you're still around
Yeah-eah, wooh hoo
Too real (real) when I feel (feel) what my heart can't conceal
Oh yes I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown (ooh ooh ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a clown
Pretend that you're
Pretend that you're still around

17. Thank God It’s Christmas

Oh my love we've had
Our share of tears
Oh my friends we've had
Our hopes and fears
Oh my friend it's been
A long hard year
But now it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
The moon and stars
Seem awful cold and bright
Let's hope the snow will
Make this Christmas right
My friend the world will share
This special night
Because it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one night
Thank God it's Christmas
Yeah thank God it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
Can it be Christmas
Let it be Christmas every day
Oh my love we live
In troubled days
Oh my friend we have
The strangest ways
Oh my friends on this
One day of days
Thank God it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one day
Thank God it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
Wooh yeah
Thank God it's Christmas
Yeah yeah yeah yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one day yeah - Christmas
A very merry Christmas to you all